‘I AM A MAN’ a memoir by Dr. Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA -Dr Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha has launched his book tittle ‘ I AM A MAN’, a thought provoking book where South African iconic actor who plays Neo Mokgethi in local soap opera Scandal shares his story about finding out the identity of his biological father at the age of fifty eight years.

“I received an enquiry in my messenger that was asking me if it would be possible for me to come to Phuthadithjaba to launch my book at Phoka Coffee,” Makhetha said. The timing of this request was perfect because Makhetha was already heading to the Thabo Mofutshanyana District on his The Island Legacy tour.

“Sometimes in life a person has to knock on doors to make things happen, we cannot always wait for things to come to us,”  Mofokeng said co-owner of Phoka Coffee.

The evening was a brilliant success the audience was captivated by Makhetha’s account of how heartbreaking it was for him to find out so late in his adulthood that the man who raised him (Ntate Mofokeng) was not in actual fact his real father. His biological father is from the Bakoena clan and his surname is Makhetha.

This unearthed a secret that shook the lives of many loved ones in this world renowned actor’s life.

 “This revelation brought on so many Aha moments for our family,” Lerato Makhetha said, the son of Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha. After having read the entire book Kananelo Mofokeng’s mother, who was at the book launch; challenged Makhetha to create his own Television show where he will unpack some of the issues that he has written about in his book, in order to help heal the nation.

Thabo Kessah Maluti –A – Phofung municipality’s communication manager asked; “Yes you have written the book, but now the question is where to from here?” the somber mood was broken by the performance of local musician and songstress Gugulethu who entertained the audience while those who bought the book got it signed by Makhetha.